Compare towns
Meredith vs Mapleton vs Kingston vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Kingston has the highest household income ($105k).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Meredith | Mapleton | Kingston | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
1,884Lowest |
6,275 |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7 43% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,906Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | — | #78 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Sanborn Regional School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.